Last Week's Survey Results are In!

Last week we asked you which programs you would prefer to see the SLC3 host next year. Here's your answers!

St. Louis Office of Lamar Johnson Collaborative Expanding into Entertainment Market

Lamar Johnson Collaborative announced its expansion into the entertainment market. LJC’s growing team, operating from the firm’s St. Louis office, is poised to deliver entertainment projects on a global scale. With over 100 years of combined experience in the industry, the new team has overseen the design and construction of guest experiences around the world, including theme and water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums and cultural centers. The entertainment team is positioned to collaborate with its diverse partners to bring unique stories to life and create unforgettable experiences and moments.

“Our expansion into the entertainment sector marks a significant milestone for LJC, as we see increased opportunities across all of our markets as the emphasis on a dynamic user experience evolves,” stated Kapil Khanna, CEO of LJC. “Our innovative and knowledgeable team is proud to offer comprehensive solutions that enhance all aspects of guest-centric environments.”

LJC’s integrated entertainment team of architects and designers provide services ranging from planning and development, architecture and interior design, art direction, and construction oversight that navigate the complexity of large-scale projects. LJC’s team can bring interaction and immersive experiences to life, while collaborating with operational and safety teams to maximize long-term project sustainability and guest experience.

By offering clients an analytical process that is unique to LJC, the firm can help guide projects to success from master planning and concept design through opening day and beyond. These tools include operating model analyses, which allow designers to forecast hourly and daily guest attendance and better understand a facility’s performance during both design day and peak day conditions. Access to Placer.AI, the premier market intelligence platform, shapes these program metrics by providing verifiable data on venue guests, ranging from their travel point of origin to their preferred interests. MassMotion, an advanced crowd flow simulation software, allows LJC to test guest flow through proposed designs or existing facilities. Using these tools in a strategic way informs design work, optimizing guest experiences and operational efficiency long before real-world implementation and provides a guide for continued analysis and development.

Construction Spending Slips, But One Sector Shines

From UHY Blog

Overall spending in the construction industry is down for 2024, but one sector is providing room for optimism. The largest private segment, manufacturing construction has jumped more than 17 percent over the past twelve months from new federal data.

Despite the expectation that interest rates will remain elevated, the ongoing investment in industrial facilities as well as significant infrastructure related outlays will keep nonresidential spending elevated. Over the past two years an unprecedented increase in manufacturing construction spending has pushed overall nonresidential activity up to 31.9 percent higher.

According to the U.S. Census of Bureau, nonresidential construction spending remains strong compared to a year ago. Public nonresidential spending has soared to a 16.7 percent increase over the past twelve months and private nonresidential spending has increased 8.3 percent in the same time period. Even with the increase in private nonresidential spending, the private sector has produced mixed results over the past few months.

The private sector reported a 0.2 percent decline in March and then a 0.3 percent decline in April after having several months of continued growth. With a consecutive two-month private sector the seasonally adjusted annual rate of spending to 1.2 trillion dollars, according to Associated Builders and Contractors’ analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

Manufacturing Construction Carries Private Sector

The sector’s overall growth is due to manufacturing construction, which is the largest private segment in the construction industry. Manufacturing construction gained 0.9 percent in April and more than 17 percent over the past twelve months. Even with this increase in the private sector of the construction industry, commercial construction fell 1.1 percent in April and is virtually unchanged from a year ago.

Overlapping Trends in Healthcare and Senior Living Design

By Ray Wong, Managing Principal, Lawrence Group (Florida Operations)

Senior Living design is not for the faint of heart. Successful projects often depend on a Design Team’s ability to skillfully merge design considerations inherent to a wide range of project typologies including: Hospitality Design, Education, Multi-Family Residential, Urban Planning and yes… Healthcare Design. Emerging Senior Living design trends, and the need to consider how these trends might benefit a given project, may (for better or worse) color longstanding perceptions of what “traditional” Senior Living spaces should look like. This article focuses on three trends that highlight a growing focus on Healthcare and healthcare design considerations within the Senior Living project type.

Telehealth Considerations

It’s no surprise that the explosive growth of telehealth services has perfectly coincided with the growth of the older peri-covid patient, increasingly older Senior Living residents, and an exploding elderly population that are all, often times, one and the same. Emerging Covid therapeutic options, though praised for helping to lessen concerns associated with how the disease will impact the elderly, have had little impact on the financial burdens placed on healthcare systems in the wake of the global pandemic. On the other hand, the government incentivized use of telehealth [an emerging trend during the pandemic], helped providers bridge a concerning accessibility gap while also providing some financial relief in the form of funding and grants, payment parity and regulatory flexibility. The magnitude of this financial relief has been steadily eroding as some programs (such as the CARES Act) have been pared back over time.

But, what has not been diminished is the newly found view of telehealth’s place as a legitimate alternative to more traditional delivery of care models both, within the healthcare as well as within the senior living space. “Lessons learned,” particularly those which are easily quantifiable, data-driven and evidence-based in nature, are already being used to define the Senior Living model of the future. Consider for example that Predictive Technologies, an offshoot of telehealth which helps to enable proactive interactions between clinicians and patients, is increasingly being adopted in Senior Living design as a direct reaction to the type of “delay of care” concerns that providers experienced throughout the Covid pandemic. Patient tracking and remote monitoring, which trigger a clinical emergency response, are also examples of Senior Living design trends that have find their respective origins in the “tech”, the telehealth and the broader healthcare arena.

How Modern Building Enclosures are Redefining Commercial Design

Beyond the Surface

Building envelopes, historically seen as a blend of aesthetics and protection against external elements, have evolved. Today, it is not just about the allure, but also about the immediate functionality and sustainability they offer. These essential components put the building exterior front and center, creating a powerful first impression amidst a fluctuating real estate market.

Yet, quality in modern building design transcends outward appearance. Beyond aesthetic allure, the caliber of a building is gauged by its functionality—particularly by its ability to regulate internal climates and improve energy efficiencies. Such is the indispensable role of the building envelope in contemporary architecture. Forsyth Pointe exemplifies this with its performance-based design approach, employing high-performance glazing and state-of-the-art insulation methods that not only bolster energy efficiency, but also adhere to stringent performance criteria. This technical foresight allows the integration of architectural elements that harness natural light and mitigate heat gain, a testament to the project’s commitment to sustainable practices.

Pushing Boundaries with Facade Installation

Specializing in providing building enclosure services, IWR North America’s involvement with Forsyth Pointe showcases how specialty contractors play a pivotal role in bringing these new-age architectural visions to life. The expertise is not just in doing the work, but in navigating the unique challenges each project presents and devising innovative solutions.

Crafted by Christner Architects, the vision for Forsyth Pointe was unequivocal: large units of glass, seamlessly integrated into the building, providing both form and function. This glass curtain wall exemplifies the high-end nature of the development and contemporary architectural trend that embraces large, transparent sections to maximize light and view.

To bring this architectural vision to life, IWR North America was tasked with the installation of 27,406 m² (295,000 sf) of curtain walls. The complexity of Forsyth Pointe’s facade was not merely in its size but in coordinating 23 distinct systems that contribute to the building’s thermal, structural, and aesthetic integrity. From the transparency of high-performance glazing to the engineering of metal panels and attachment assemblies, each component played a critical role in the overall design.

The advanced coordination required to align these systems ensured the high-performance glazing did not just meet the design intent visually, but also conformed to exacting thermal and structural specifications. This process went beyond product selection, involving a meticulous orchestration of systems and components to achieve a unified level of performance. This unity was critical to maintaining Christner’s design intent, ensuring each line and contour met the building’s performance requirements without compromising the envisioned aesthetic.

Growth at Guarantee: Central Region Promotes New Leadership

By Kerry Smith - Construction News & Review

Guarantee Electrical, a 122-year-old industry leader in electrical contracting and a 100 percent employee-owned organization, announces a series of strategic promotions designed to empower the next generation of leadership.

President and Chief Construction Officer – David Gralike 

Gralike, who began his career as an IBEW apprentice electrician in 1983, continues as the company president and chief construction officer.

“David is always there for the team. His contracting savvy is only surpassed by his love for the team he’s built at Guarantee,” said CEO Rich Ledbetter. “Dave is the first chief construction officer at Guarantee, and it’s so obvious. All of us lean on his experience and commitment to our workforce, their safety, innovation and quality.”

Executive Vice President Central Region – Jason Wiegand

Wiegand assumes operational responsibility for the core business region at Guarantee. The Central Region includes Missouri and Illinois and has been Guarantee’s anchor for its entire history. Ledbetter shared, “Jason has spent the last 25 years earning the reputation as the very best pre-construction leader in our industry. He’s also built an incredible team in pre-construction, engineering and procurement. He’s ready to take Central operations to the next level.”

Senior Vice President Pre-Construction – Grant Kane

Elevated to leader of Guarantee’s pre-construction team is Kane, a 16-year veteran of Guarantee. Kane will own responsibility for all pre-construction activities from estimating to design, engineering and constructability. Gralike said, “Grant is a special person in every way. He’s grown up in this business and brings a uniquely positive approach to his work. His leadership has an unmistakably collaborative style.”

Central Region Vice Presidents – Tom O’Hara & Jacob Wieneke 

Guarantee’s Central Region leadership sees O’Hara and Wieneke promoted to Vice President of Operations. Wiegand’s role will oversee Guarantee’s growing business units. “I couldn’t ask for two better partners,” he said. “Tom, Jake, and I have been together for 15 years. These two deserve this opportunity and are going to lead their teams to new levels of success.”

Investing in People for a Sustainable Future

“These promotions are a testament to Guarantee’s commitment to building a strong, sustainable, and people-centric organization,” said Ledbetter. “Our employee-owned model allows us to cultivate leadership from within and provide rewarding growth opportunities. I can’t wait to see what this team builds together.”

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis DEI Contractor & Supplier Networking Event

Expand your network with the FRB St. Louis facilities team and learn about the opportunities available at the Bank, including previous projects! Registration Details will be released soon.

When: Thursday, September 26th, 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Where: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Economy Museum (free/secured parking in the Bank's garage)